• Daisy Pearce awarded Leadership Legend award
• The Matildas named A-Team of the Year
Women’s Health last night awarded Matildas star Samantha Kerr the Women’s Health Sportswoman of the Year title at the seventh annual Women in Sport Awards at the International Convention Centre in Sydney before an audience of around 200 prominent sporting identities, media and special guests.
Kerr received a standing ovation as she accepted the top gong of the evening just moments after her national team was awarded the hotly contested A-Team of The Year accolade, for its recent show-stopping 6-1 victory against Brazil.
Australian boxer Shelley Watts with Jackie Frank and Jacqui Mooney
The event was hosted by Pacific Magazines under the leadership of CEO Gereurd Roberts, who was joined by Women’s Health editor Jacqui Mooney, general manager Jackie Frank and Men’s Health editor Luke Benedictus. There were not a lot of men in the room. However the event as always was hosted by Seven’s Mark Beretta, while his colleagues from Seven West Media included digital guru Clive Dickens and his wife, Seven multitasker Andy Kay and Pacific supporter Simon Francis.
Seven’s Mel McLaughlin presented one of the evening’s awards.
In other awards, the late Betty Cuthbert was recognised with the coveted Hall of Fame award.
The 2017 Moment of the Year was awarded to the AFLW inaugural game, Carlton versus Collingwood.
Guests at the prestigious gala awards evening included some of the country‟s biggest names, including Sally Pearson, Steph Claire Smith, Laura Henshaw, Leah Itsines, Danielle Scott, Nick “The Honey Badger” Cummins, Daisy Pearce, Angus Parry, Dr Susan Alberti, Jessica Fox and Amna Karra-Hassan.
Category winners for 2017
Hall of Fame – Betty Cuthbert, Athletics
Women’s Health Sportswoman of the Year – Samantha Kerr, Soccer
Moment of the Year – AFLW inaugural game, Carlton versus Collingwood
A-Team of the Year – Matildas, Soccer
Person of Sporting Influence – Dr Susan Alberti, Women’s Football trailblazer
Local Sporting Champion – Mariella Teuira, Sports Club founder
Leadership Legend – Daisy Pearce, AFLW
One to Watch – Ashleigh Gardner, Cricket
Australian Federal Government Award for Outstanding Woman in Sport – Britt Cox, Mogul Skiing
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Women’s Health editor Jacqui Mooney said: “What an exciting year it has been for women in sport. Our female athletes have been inspirational both on and off the field and it’s a true honour to toast their achievements tonight.
“Back in 2011 when Women’s Health created ‘I Support Women in Sport’, it was for one reason: to celebrate our amazing female athletes. Seven years on and it’s genuinely ingrained in our DNA and a huge part of what Women’s Health stands for.
“To us, it’s so much more than just one night – it’s a 365-day commitment each year. We now run dedicated WinS content in every single issue and across every prong of the Women’s Health brand: via print, digital, social and events. We’re telling sportswomen’s stories, celebrating their achievements and profiling incredible athletes from grassroots to elite level.”
Top photo: Samantha Kerr with teammates Lisa De Vanna and Stephanie Catley